I'm a Nomad for the next month

Just thought that I would let everyone know that I'm moving tonight. I'll be living in one place for a week, another place for a week and then one more place for my last two weeks in YK. I don't know my new numbers/ address, etc. but for now I should still be able to get any mail that comes to my current address.
Until I figure out if I have a home phone, you can reach me at work if you feel the need: 867-873-7732. I work from 8:30am-5:00pm MDT.

GNWT Health and Social Services Golf Tournament

Today we had our 'company' golf tournament at the Yellowknife Golf Club . I'm glad that I can say that I went golfing but I don't think that I'll be doing it again. I don't really like golfing (sorry Carrie) which is probably partly a function of the fact that I have no idea what I'm doing and I definetly didn't like the swarms of bugs that were attacking my despite my continual use of deet. I was bleeding, itching, swatting and generally not very impressed by the entire situation. That being said I had a fun team, including the assistant deputy minister (who I almost hit in the head with a golf ball- and I'm not exaggerating it literally flew right by her head). However once was definetly enough for me.
Interesting things about the YK golf club:
1) You don't get a penalty if the raven's steal your ball (which they apparently do).
2) It was bombed last year by the Canadian Airforce (apparently I bomb was accidently dropped as a plane took off from the YK airport).
3) They have a midnight tournament every June because its light out. I'm told there's lots of drinking at this tournament
4) They also have a tournament in the dark in September. They have special balls with glow sticks in them and there are glow sticks on the flags so you can kind of see where you're going.

Yellowknife Golf Club clubhouse 

Looking down the fairway. 

Here I am teeing off at our second hole. Look at my terrible form, you can totally tell that I'm not a golfer. 

Here I am on the fairway hitting my ball. Please note the little green mat that you have to carry around with you so that you have something to hit off of. There are actually designated sand traps- they're marked with wood beams. 

The water trap you see is where I hit my ball- I thought you were suppose to hit the ball into the water, I swear it. 

Walking along to the next hole 

The golf course isn't a complete desert 

Hole number 12 looked out over long lake (the milk crate is where you can put your empty (beer) bottles. 

Successful Completion of Lake Kayak Level II

The Lake Kayak Level Two course took place on Friday night (theory and prep work) and all day on Saturday. We left Narwal (in backbay) on Saturday morning at 9:15 and headed for Cassidy point. I've decided that if I live somewhere where there's water I need to own two kayaks (one river and one lake), a canoe and an SUV so I can move the boats around (plus, I think I'd look cute driving an SUV). We took the same route that I paddled two weeks ago with the paddling club (refer to the previous post for a map and description). On the first lag of our paddle we saw a man in a parasail- well it looked like a parasail but he had a giant fan on his back and was flying around looking at the scenary. The bugs at the portage definetly warranted a bugs jacket! We had lunch at Tartan rapids and went swimming- as Rob discovered it was a bit too chilly to be swimming without a wetsuit. While eatting lunch we watched the pike swimming arounnd (they were giant and would make my brother want to go fishing) and a beaver crossing just below the rapids. After our lunch and swim we set out down the Yellowknife River and saw a bald eagle and an otter, along with misc. water fowl. We were moving with the river so the paddle wasn't too bad (although there was a head wind for awhile, which was less than enjoyable). We took the boats out at the Yellowknife day area and arrived back in Yellowknife at 5:15pm.

I had to eat my lunch inside my bug jacket the bugs were that bad. Believe me, even the most fashion conscious person would have been begging to wear a bug jacket. 

First hitting the water was a bit of a shock 

A happy camper in my wetsuit (even though the water was in the 40s) 

I'm taking off 

I'm caught in mid-air 

Our fearless leaders took the plunge 

Jen is relaxing in the water (nice and toasty warm in my wetsuit) 

Setting out for the afternoon paddle (just below the rapids) 

Jen sits back and lets Kenny do the work  

But I'm still going strong 

Good times with good friends (and for the record the lu lu lemon pants that I'm wearing in this picture may be great for yoga and make my butt look cute but they are not mosquitoe proof. Those little suckers can bite right thrown the pants.) 

While we waited for the shuttles to come we all just sat and rest (sporting our bug attire of course). 

We all arrived safe and sound at Yellowknife River Day Use Area. 

Changing positions in the canoe is always a bit peracrious 

Packing up to go home (a good time to practice your knot tieing skills) 

Bongo Drums, Booty Slaps, Banging on the table

Another Night at the Wildcat...
As always there was a jam session at the Wildcat- complete with our favourite performer from last time and a guy who showed up with a bongo drum. The tables became instruments as everyone sitting started pounding to the the music- allison discovered that you could add a flip of the rest to your pounding that was oddly reminiscent of a booty slap.

The really good berry and rubarb crips that Jen and I shared last time we went to the wildcat but decided was just too good to share again. As you can see we each got our own serving 

Allison and Jen